Jaishankar meets Bahrain FM Al Zayani in Manama, talks bilateral ties
Synopsis
With West Asia in turmoil following the Iran conflict, EAM Jaishankar's stop in Manama carries more than routine diplomatic weight. His meeting with Bahrain FM Al Zayani — focused on bilateral ties and diaspora welfare for over 3,15,000 Indians — is the second leg of a six-nation tour that will take him from the Gulf to Washington and Brussels.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar met Bahrain FM Dr.
Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Manama on 6 July .
Talks covered deepening bilateral cooperation and regional developments amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Jaishankar expressed appreciation for Bahrain's support for the 3,15,000-strong Indian community , nearly a quarter of Bahrain's population of 1.5 million .
The Manama visit is the second stop of Jaishankar's six-nation tour; he will next travel to Kuwait, Oman, the US, and Brussels .
PM Modi had spoken with Bahrain King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on 2 March , condemning attacks on Bahrain and reaffirming solidarity.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his Bahraini counterpart Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Manama on Monday, 6 July, holding discussions on deepening bilateral cooperation and regional developments. The meeting marks the second stop of Jaishankar's six-nation diplomatic tour.
What Was Discussed
Jaishankar conveyed India's appreciation to the Bahrain leadership for safeguarding the welfare of the Indian community in the Gulf kingdom. The two foreign ministers exchanged views on ongoing developments in the region, with the broader West Asia situation forming a critical backdrop to the talks.
'Delighted to meet FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrain in Manama today. Expressed deep appreciation for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community. Discussed deepening our bilateral cooperation. Exchanged views on ongoing developments in the region,' Jaishankar posted on X following the meeting.
The Six-Nation Tour in Context
Jaishankar arrived in Manama after concluding his engagements in Doha, Qatar, where he met Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and interacted with representatives of the Indian community. After Bahrain, he is scheduled to travel to Kuwait, Oman, the United States, and Brussels.
The tour comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the region. Since February, West Asia has been engulfed in a conflict triggered by joint US-Israel strikes on Iran, aimed at degrading Tehran's missile capabilities. The opening wave of the operation reportedly killed senior Iranian leadership figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting a sweeping Iranian response involving drone and missile attacks targeting US assets, regional capitals, and allied forces across the Gulf.
India-Bahrain Ties: A Snapshot
India and Bahrain share longstanding bilateral relations spanning political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people dimensions, according to the Embassy of India in Bahrain. More than 3,15,000 Indian nationals reside in Bahrain, comprising nearly a quarter of the country's total population of 1.5 million — making diaspora welfare a central pillar of the relationship.
Modi-Bahrain King Call in March
The diplomatic engagement between the two countries has been active since the regional crisis intensified. On 2 March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Bahrain King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, during which he condemned attacks on Bahrain and expressed solidarity with its people. Modi also thanked the King for the support extended to the Indian community.
'Had a productive telephone conversation with the King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. India condemns the attacks on Bahrain and stands in solidarity with its people in this difficult hour. I thank him for the steadfast support extended to the Indian community in Bahrain,' Modi had posted on X at the time.
Jaishankar's visit signals that India is actively reinforcing its Gulf partnerships even as the region navigates its most volatile period in years.
Point of View
15,000 Indian nationals living in Bahrain alone — the diaspora welfare dimension of these talks is not ceremonial; it is strategic. India's consistent messaging of solidarity with Gulf partners, paired with active outreach at the ministerial level, reflects a calibrated effort to keep evacuation options open and economic corridors intact. The six-nation sweep ending in Washington and Brussels also signals that India is positioning itself as a credible interlocutor across the conflict's principal stakeholders — a role it has sought since the crisis began in February.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did EAM Jaishankar visit Bahrain?
Jaishankar visited Manama on 6 July as part of a six-nation diplomatic tour, meeting Bahrain FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments. The visit also focused on the welfare of over 3,15,000 Indian nationals residing in Bahrain.
What is the significance of Jaishankar's six-nation tour?
The tour covers Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United States, and Brussels, spanning key Gulf partners and Western allies at a time of heightened regional tension following the Iran conflict. It signals India's active diplomatic engagement across all principal stakeholders in the West Asia crisis.
How many Indians live in Bahrain?
More than 3,15,000 Indian nationals reside in Bahrain, according to the Embassy of India in Bahrain. They constitute nearly a quarter of the country's total population of 1.5 million, making diaspora welfare a central pillar of India-Bahrain ties.
What did PM Modi say about Bahrain during the West Asia conflict?
On 2 March, PM Narendra Modi spoke by phone with Bahrain King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, condemning attacks on Bahrain and expressing solidarity with its people. He also thanked the King for the support extended to the Indian community in the country.
What is the current situation in West Asia?
Since February, the region has been in conflict following joint US-Israel strikes on Iran aimed at degrading Tehran's military capabilities. The strikes reportedly killed senior Iranian leadership figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory drone and missile attacks across the Gulf targeting US assets and allied forces.
